Bedding Case

ABSTRACT

A bedding case including a plurality of pockets, each pocket incorporating a pair of flexible sheets, wherein each pocket opens longitudinally or opens oppositely longitudinally, wherein each flexible sheet has a face side and a reverse side, wherein each flexible sheet pair&#39;s sheets have their reverse sides facing away from each other; and including stitching interconnecting the pockets, the stitching vertically stacking the pockets so that, upon an eversion of one of the pockets, the one pocket&#39;s paired flexible sheets invert and outwardly display their face sides, the one pocket&#39;s eversion storing each of the other pockets within the one pocket.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to bedding such as bed pillows and bed covering duvets, and broadly including decorative pillows, cushions, and the like. More particularly, this invention relates to flexible cases, enveloping covers, and closures for such items.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional pillow cases and duvet covers comprise paired upper and lower flexible sheets, each such sheet having a finished or face side and a reverse side. Such paired flexible sheets commonly form a pocket which typically presents only two decorative or finished outer appearances, one decorative side being at a first side of the pillow or duvet, and the other decorative side being at a side opposite the first side.

The instant inventive bedding case, through special arrangements of provided flexible pockets and their component sheets, preserves the above described functionality of conventional duvet and pillow cases while enabling the case to alternatively present and display multiple additional finished surfaces.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The types of bedding which are intended to be receivable and encaseable within instant inventive case include common bed pillows and bed covering duvets or continental quilts. Other types of pillows and cushions, including those found in living spaces outside of bedrooms are considered as constituting “bedding” items which are served by the instant inventive case.

A first structural component of the instant inventive bedding case comprises a plurality of flexible and evertable pockets. In a suitable embodiment, the pocket plurality may include as few as two pockets. Alternatively, the pocket plurality may comprise a stacked array of as many as four pockets. In the preferred embodiment of the instant invention, each of the case's pockets comprises a pair of rectangular and longitudinally oblongated flexible sheets. Alternatively, the side lengths of such sheets may be substantially equal, squaring their rectangular configurations.

In a preferred embodiment of the inventive bedding case, each of the pockets' flexible sheet pairs is composed of fabric, each such sheet preferably having a face side and a reverse side (i.e., the fabric's respective “right” and “wrong” sides). The paired face surfaces or sides of each flexible sheet pair are preferably initially arranged in direct abutting contact with each other (i.e., facing each other) while such sheets' reverses or “wrong sides” correspondingly face away from each other.

Further structural components of the inventive bedding case comprise attaching means (preferably stitching, and suitably alternatively adhesive bonds, thermally fused bonds, stapled seams, riveted seams, “Velcro” seams, or cross laced seams) which securely interconnect the pockets' paired sheets. In the preferred embodiment, the attaching means position and hold the pockets in a vertically stacked array or series. Such arrangement of the pockets advantageously allows a selection and eversion of one of the pockets to invert and outwardly display both of the selected pocket's finished faces, and to simultaneously draw each of the other pockets into the selected pocket.

The inventive case's facilitation of a selection and eversion of one pocket advantageously allows the selected pocket to dually function as a decorative cover and as container for compact and convenient storage of each of the case's other pockets. Each of the other pockets incorporated within the inventive case is preferably capable of, upon its alternative selection and eversion, similarly performing such dual functions. In a preferred embodiment, a zipper closure is sewn at each of the pockets' openings. Snaps, buttons, “Velcro” fasteners, or lacings may suitably be used in place of a zipper.

In use of the instant inventive bedding case, an interior decorator may initially manually splay the openings of each of the case's pockets and may successively view their finished interior wall surfaces. Such interior viewing of the pockets facilitates the decorator's selection of a pair of fabric faces which will temporarily function as decorative outer pillow case or duvet cover surfaces.

Following the selection of such pair of finished pillow or duvet outer surfaces, the decorator may simply and conveniently evert the pocket which includes the selected surfaces. Upon such pocket eversion, the two chosen decorative finished faces are advantageously inverted for outward display, while each of the case's other pockets are simultaneously drawn into and are stored within the selected everted pocket. Thereafter, a pillow or duvet may be stuffed into the newly defined interior of the selected everted pocket adjacent the other stored pockets. The everted pocket may then be closed by means of, for example, an attached zipper fastener.

Reversal of steps described above, including a re-eversion of the previously selected pocket, advantageously reconfigures the inventive bedding case at the above described initial configuration. Thereafter, a different or alternative pocket selection and eversion may proceed.

Accordingly, objects of the instant invention include the provision of a bedding case which incorporates features and structures as described above, and which arranges those features and structures in relation to each other in manners described above for the achievement of benefits, as described above.

Other and further objects, benefits, and advantages of the instant invention will become known to those skilled in the art upon review of the Detailed Description which follows, and upon review of the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of paired sheet components of the instant inventive bedding case.

FIG. 2 presents alternate perspective views of the structures depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 presents an assembled view of the structures depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A redepicts the structures of FIG. 3, the view of FIG. 3 alternatively showing an attachment of an additional pair of flexible sheets.

FIG. 4 presents an alternative perspective view of the structures depicted in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 presents an alternate configuration of the structures of FIG. 3, the view of FIG. 5 showing an upper pocket component everted.

FIG. 6 redepicts the structure of FIG. 5, the view of FIG. 6 showing the structure of FIG. 5 rotated 180° about a vertical axis.

FIG. 7 presents an alternate configuration of the structure of FIG. 6, the view of FIG. 7 showing a zipper closure opened.

FIG. 8 presents a second alternate configuration of the structures of FIG. 3, the view of FIG. 8 showing a lower pocket component everted.

FIG. 9 presents an alternate configuration of the structure of FIG. 8, the view of FIG. 9 showing a zipper closure opened.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view as indicated in FIG. 9, the view of FIG. 10 additionally showing a pillow or duvet received within an interior pocket space.

FIG. 11 is a magnified partial view as indicated in FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and in particular simultaneously to Drawing FIGS. 3 and 4, a preferred embodiment of the instant inventive bedding case is referred to generally by Reference Arrow 1. The case 1 preferably comprises, as depicted, a plurality of pockets stacked in a vertical array or series. In the example of FIGS. 3 and 4, an uppermost pocket among such pocket plurality has a longitudinal opening whose lips are bordered by attached zipper halves 12 and 28. Correspondingly, a lowermost pocket among such pocket plurality has an oppositely longitudinal opening whose lips are bordered by zipper halves 42 and 60. The zipper closures 12,28 and 42,60 are intended as being representative of other releasable fastening means such as “Velcro” or flexible hook and loop pad fasteners, button and buttonhole combination fasteners, snap fasteners, button and button loop combination fasteners, hook and eye combination fasteners, and lacings which may be suitably substituted.

Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 1-3 and 4, the upper and lower longitudinally opening and oppositely longitudinally opening pockets preferably comprise pairs of flexible sheets 2 and 16, and 30 and 46, each sheet among said pairs of sheet preferably being configured substantially rectangularly, such configurations including a square configuration. The base or floor ends of such pockets are preferably permanently closed by laterally extending lines of stitching 68 and 70.

Each of the sheets 2, 16, 30, and 46 has a face or “right” side identified by reference numerals 14, 18, 44, and 48 respectively. Correspondingly, such sheets have reverse or “wrong” sides 2, 17, 32, and 62, respectively. The face sides 14, 18, 44, and 48, of the sheets 2, 16, 30, and 46, preferably have varying finished and decorative surfaces which are respectively represented by the checkerboard pattern of finished face 14, the broad striped pattern of finished face 18, the solid color feature of finished face 44, and the narrow striped pattern of finished face 48. Referring in particular to FIGS. 10 and 11, such face side patterns and features 14, 18, 44, and 48, are represented as thin layers or stratums which decoratively overlie their underlying sheet matrices 2, 16, 30, and 46, each such sheet matrix having a “wrong” or reverse side 3, 17, 32, and 62, respectively. Such right side face stratums may commonly comprise fabric print patterns and appliques. Suitably, such face sides may alternatively comprise finished textures such as the cut pile of velour, finished sides of woven cloth, finished embroidery, finished patchwork, the grain side of leather or other finished fabric and cloth surfaces. The depicted face surface examples 14, 18, 44, and 48 are intended as being representative of all of the various decorative finished fabric surfaces which may be incorporated into the face sides of material having “right” and “wrong” sides. According to the orientation of sheets as drawn in FIGS. 1-3 and 4, sheets 2, 16, 30, and 46 respectively have longitudinal ends 8, 26, 38, and 54; oppositely longitudinal ends 10, 24, 40, and 56; lateral ends 6, 22, 36, and 52; and oppositely lateral ends 4, 20, 34, and 50.

Referring simultaneously to FIG. 1-3, the instant inventive bedding case 1 preferably further comprises attaching means which interconnect the plurality of pockets (e.g. sheet pair 2 and 16 connected with sheet pair 30 and 46), such attaching means arranging the pockets so that they are stacked in a vertically extending series or array. The attaching means may suitably comprise longitudinally extending lines of sewn stitching 66 and 64 which are respectively positioned at the lateral and oppositely lateral ends of the sheets 2, 16, 30, and 46. Such lines of stitching 66 and 64 are intended as being representative of other attaching means which may be suitably substituted such as adhesive bonds, thermally fused bonds, riveted seams, stapled seams, snap fastened seams, buttoned fastened seams, and flexible hook and loop pad fastened seams.

In use of the instant inventive bedding case, an interior decorator may initially manually splay the longitudinal ends 8 and 26 of upper pocket 2,16 in order to view such pocket's initially inwardly oriented finished faces 14 and 18. Thereafter, the decorator may splay the oppositely longitudinal ends 40 and 56 of the lower pocket 30,46 in order to view such pocket's initially inwardly oriented finished surfaces 44 and 48. Following viewing such inward pairs of finished sheet surfaces, the decorator may select a pair of surfaces which will aesthetically compliment the case's usage environment. Thereafter, the decorator may evert the pocket which includes the selected pair of finished surfaces.

Upon executing the above splaying and viewing steps, the decorator may, for example, initially select finished sheet faces 14 and 18 for display at the opposing outer surfaces of the bedding case. Thereafter, the decorator may evert the upper pocket which includes the selected faces, such eversion reorienting the bedding case's sheets 2 and 16 at their FIG. 5 configurations. Such upper pocket eversion advantageously inverts sheet 2 longitudinally end to end and causes such sheet's finished face 14 to be reoriented upwardly with zippered end 8 reoriented oppositely longitudinally. Such upper pocket eversion simultaneously inverts sheet 16 to cause its finished face 18 to be displayed downwardly with its zippered longitudinal end 26 reoriented oppositely longitudinally. Simultaneously with such eversion of the upper pocket from the FIG. 3 configuration to assume the FIG. 5 configuration, the lower pocket consisting of sheets 30 and 46 is drawn between the newly outwardly facing sheets 2 and 16, such sheets 30 and 46 being conveniently stored therebetween.

A re-everting reversal of the steps described above may advantageously return the bedding case 1 to the FIG. 3 configuration, such re-eversion allowing a successive re-decorating selection and eversion of the case's lower pocket. FIGS. 4 and 8 represent such alternative pocket eversion (and alternative outer facing surface reconfiguration) wherein the lower pocket consisting of sheets 30 and 46 are positioned at their FIG. 8 configuration. As indicated in FIG. 9, such alternative pocket eversion compactly inwardly stores sheets 16 and 2.

Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 1-3 and 4, it may be seen that the upper pocket including sheet pair 2,16, opens longitudinally and the lower pocket comprising sheet pair 30,46 opens oppositely longitudinally. Such alternating longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal positioning of the pockets' openings desirably assures that an eversion of the upper pocket causes zipper closure 12,28 to overlie the stitched pocket floor 70 of the inwardly encased lower pocket, and alternatively assures that, upon eversion of the lower pocket, zipper 42,60 overlies stitched pocket floor 68. Such alternating longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal positionings of the pockets' openings advantageously prevents each pocket's zipper closure (or other releasable closing means) from contacting and interfering with that of the other pocket.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 8-10, upon an everting configuration of the bedding case 1 for decorative use as indicated in FIG. 9, a bedding pillow, couch pillow or cushion, or duvet 90 having a cloth cover 91 may be slidably inserted into the formed interior concavity 92. Thereafter, zipper 42,60 may be closed as indicated in FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 3A, all structures identified by a reference numerals having the suffix “A” are configured substantially identically with similarly numbered structures appearing in FIG. 3. In the FIG. 3A alternative, a third evertable pocket 82,84 is stitched to the first and at least second evertable pockets which are represented in FIG. 3. Similarly with sheets 30A and 46A, sheets 82 and 84 form a zipper adapted oppositely longitudinally opening end 86. The abutting inwardly facing surfaces of such third pocket 82,84 preferably include a pair of different decorative or finished fabric faces (not shown in view) which, upon eversion, will face outwardly from the pillow's or duvet's surfaces. The addition of such third pocket 82,84 is intended as being representative of further and additional pocket additions. For example, a four pocket version of the inventive case will allow the decorator to select among four pairs of different fabric faces.

Referring further to FIG. 3A, while sheets 82, 84, 2A, 16A, 30A, and 46A are drawn as relatively thin fabric sheets, such sheets may alternatively comprise soft quilted material having an increased loft between ¾ inch and 1½ inches. Where, for example, the sheets 82, 84, 2A, 16A, 30A, and 46A have 1½″ lofts, the total thickness of the six layer stratification becomes nine inches. Such cumulative loft of the sheets may advantageously eliminate any need for an additional insertion of pillow cushioning. Accordingly, upon increasing the loft of the sheet components of the instant inventive case, the inventive case may advantageously further function as a duvet or pillow without any separate insertion of a duvet and pillow component.

While the principles of the invention have been made clear in the above illustrative embodiment, those skilled in the art may make modifications in the structure, arrangement, portions and components of the invention without departing from those principles. Accordingly, it is intended that the description and drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in the limiting sense, and that the invention be given a scope at least commensurate with the appended claims. 

The invention hereby claimed is: 1: A bedding case comprising: (a) a plurality of pockets, each pocket having an opening and having lateral, oppositely lateral, longitudinal, and oppositely longitudinal ends, and each pocket comprising a pair of flexible sheets having a pair of abutting faces, each of the pockets' flexible sheet pairs further having a pair of reverses facing away from each other; and (b) attaching means interconnecting the pockets, said means stacking the pockets so that, upon an eversion of one of the pockets, each sheet among said one pocket's paired flexible sheets inverts and outwardly displays its face, the eversion of said one pocket storing each of the other pockets within said one pocket. 2: The bedding case of claim 1 wherein each of the pockets is substantially rectangular, and wherein the attaching means are positioned along the pockets' lateral and oppositely lateral ends. 3: The bedding case of claim 2 wherein the attaching means comprise a fastener selected from the group consisting of stitched seams, adhesively bonded seams, thermally fused seams, riveted seams, stapled seams, snap fastened seams, buttoned seams, flexible hook pad and loop pad fastened seams, and laced seams. 4: The bedding case of claim 3 further comprising pocket closing means operatively positioned at the pockets' openings. 5: The bedding case of claim 4 wherein the closing means comprise fasteners selected from the group consisting of zippers, flexible hook pad and loop pad combinations, snap fasteners, button and button hole combinations, hook and eye fasteners, and lacings. 6: The bedding case of claim 5 wherein the plurality of pockets comprises a first pocket and at least a second pocket, the first pocket's opening being positioned longitudinally and the second pocket's opening being positioned oppositely longitudinally. 